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In today’s blog, we'll cover why it’s important for pastors to preach on loving selflessly and having a servant’s heart.
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In the trends and ideals of individualism that permeate Western culture –– ideas of “self-made,” “self-help,” or “self-love” can begin to place living one’s best life over how Jesus teaches and models selfless love to us. While we might be tempted to be the main character of our own lives, we must remember that we’re ultimately called to serve others “in love” (Galatians 5:13) . For pastors, imparting these lessons is not just a duty but a sacred calling, guiding their congregations to follow the example set forth by their spiritual leader.
In today’s blog, I will go over why it’s important for pastors to preach about loving selflessly and having a servant’s heart.
The concept of humans placing their own needs over the needs of others is by no means a new concept.
In the Bible, we find people such as the tax collector Zacchaeus, who used his position of power to cheat people out of their money for his own personal gain (Luke 19:1-10). John and James had gone around the other ten disciples to ask if they could be at the right and left hand of Jesus, at the establishment of His Kingdom (Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 20:20-28). The most notorious example is from another of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Himself for the personal gain of 30 silver pieces (Matthew 26:14-16).
Of course the concept of people putting themselves above the needs of others isn’t always about money or power, but can happen in any aspect of life. We see this actualized in some of the popular trends of today’s world, with a high value being placed on “personal wellness” –– cutting off those who you deem “toxic” (the distinction here being out of spite, not in the abusive sense) or those who are “holding you back.”
In an article for Dazed Digital magazine, the author Laura Pitcher states that “While ‘focusing on ourselves’ can be an important part of life, we all suffer when we aim for curation [of things that are only for our personal gain] at the expense of our community.”
So, how might we get caught up in pushing others away for our own benefit? This can happen for a variety of reasons, but one that sticks out is the convenience of personal comfort.
In an article for Psychology Today, author Nir Eyal states:
“Compared to ages past, today’s world is a bona fide utopia for most people in the industrialized world. Everything we need, and much we don’t, is at our fingertips: food, soft beds, temperature-controlled shelter. We live in stark contrast to how our ancestors lived for thousands of years, enduring extreme conditions and hunting and gathering just enough food to survive.”
In the busyness of our lives, whether through work, the monotony of daily errands, being accessible to instant communication at a moment’s notice, the anxiety of global news, having constant exposure to ads, tips, tricks, hacks, and lifestyles that suggest a better way to live, or experiencing an endless division of views, opinions, and ideals –– it can be easy to place our own comfort over the service of others.
In a world where it might be more convenient to only look out for ourselves, how can pastors teach the importance of serving others?
As always with our faith, it’s important to look to Jesus for the answer.
Here are 5 ways Jesus shows how to live with a heart of service and selfless love, that pastors can teach:
Jesus Christ's life serves as the ultimate model of selfless service. From washing the feet of his disciples to healing the sick and feeding the hungry, Jesus demonstrated unwavering compassion and humility.
As Jesus knew His time on Earth was nearing the end, He took the opportunity during dinner with the disciples to wash their feet. In spite of being the messiah, this act was antithetical to that of lordship. Washing feet was something typically designated as the “lowliest form of servitude, performed only by slaves in bondage” in those times. Jesus not only displayed this act of servitude to His disciples but let it be known to them:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:14-17).
Central to Jesus' teachings is the call to servanthood. When John and James asked to be given high positions of status in the establishment of Jesus’ Kingdom, Jesus gathered the disciples together and instructed them on a different idea of His Kingdom. A Kingdom not of personal gain, but to serve others.
In the words of Jesus:
“[...] You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45)
By prioritizing the needs of others above his own comfort and convenience, Jesus exemplified the essence of true leadership and discipleship.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus showed boundless compassion towards the marginalized, the oppressed, and the downtrodden. By showing care for the outcasts of society, Jesus served those around Him without leveraging His relationships for personal gain, status, or power.
Some great examples of this can be seen when Jesus ministers to the Samaritan woman by the well (John 4:1-26), stood up for the woman about to get stoned for adultery (John 8:1-11), and healed the leper (Matthew 8:1-4). Jesus looked past sin, difference of ideology, and illness, and invited all into His Kingdom. In doing so, Jesus reveals that true greatness lies not in power or prestige, but in acts of kindness and service to the least among us.
Jesus' message of selflessness extends beyond mere acts of charity to a radical vision of love. When asked what is the most important of the commandments, Jesus exclaims that to "love your neighbor as yourself" –– just second to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:29-31). Jesus goes as far as to say in Mark 12:31 that “there is no commandment greater than these,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of caring for one another.
We are not only called to have a servant’s heart, but to love others as we love ourselves.
Jesus taught that true discipleship is evidenced not just in words but in deeds. He declared, "By their fruit, you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:20), emphasizing the importance of bearing fruit in the form of good works and acts of service. Pastors who teach about serving others motivate their congregations to live out their faith authentically, bearing witness to the transformative power of Christ's love.
As we’re reminded in Galatians 5:22-23, 25-26:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. [...] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.”
When it comes to all the ways Jesus commands us to love and serve others, whether it’s through His own actions, words, or parables, there are a lot of ways pastors can preach on this topic.
With the help of online sermon writing tools, pastors can make the most of a message on serving others. These writing tools use AI to create sermon outlines, quickly find verses and passages that are relevant to your message, develop character studies and can ideate modern examples of scripture.
The teachings of Jesus Christ offer a profound blueprint for living a life of selfless service and love. While we might get lost in the busyness of our lives, searching for our own comfort, stability, health, happiness, or success –– it’s important to be reminded of the way Jesus calls us to serve others. It’s important for Pastors to impart these lessons to their congregation, not simply as a self-help tip for personal fulfillment, but as a key tenet to our faith and calling as Christians.
